A tough freezing worker or farmer, Blake played in an astonishing 178 first class matches between 1941 and 1960, of which 108 were for Wairarapa, becoming one of the first players to reach a century of matches for the one union.

Blake’s 20-year playing span, which was not continuous because of World War II and other unavailability’s through injury and for family reasons, meant he was a playing contemporary in the “Kiwis” of greats like Bob Scott, Fred Allen and John Simpson and, in his closing years with Wairarapa, of Brian Lochore.

Blake was a rawboned loose forward for much of his career. But though he did not pack much more than 92kg on his 1.88m frame he spent most of his latter years as a lock.

The peak of Blake’s career was with the Kiwis, for whom he played in 24 matches including all five of their unofficial internationals against Europe’s Five Nations.

After World War II Blake resumed his association with Wairarapa and became an inspiration, usually as captain, of that union. Blake captained Wairarapa in their 3-0 upset Ranfurly Shield win over Canterbury in 1950 and was still playing as captain when Wairarapa challenged, this time unsuccessfully, against Canterbury in 1954.

Blake made the North Island side in 1948 and was again involved in the interisland match in each of the 1950 and 1952 seasons. He also had All Black trials in the 1950 and 1953 seasons but received little other recognition at national level.

After playing for a New Zealand XV in the warmup match against Horowhenua he made his All Black debut in the second national selection of 1949 against the touring Australians at Athletic Park. But because of a family bereavement Blake missed the second test at Eden Park and so his one test was his only All Black match.

Blake, of course, was ineligible for the All Blacks’ tour of South Africa, and as some compensation had an extensive involvement with New Zealand Maori sides between 1948 and 1950. In the latter season he captained the Maori to a narrow loss in a spectacular match against the touring Lions and was also in the Maori side that played a New Zealand XV in a match to farewell retiring Governor General Lord Bernard Freyberg.

Blake’s selection in Maori sides might have been questioned by some purists. For he was of negro ancestry rather than Maori.

Blake led the combined Wairarapa-Bush team against the 1950 Lions and nine years for the same combined side was again captain against the 1959 Lions. A young forward in the Wairarapa-Bush side in 1959 was the teenaged Lochore.

Blake’s younger brother, Rex, and his son, Ian, also played representative rugby.

“Kiwi” Blake later had two spells as a Wairarapa representative selector and coach.

Profile by Lindsay Knight
for the New Zealand Rugby Museum.

ALL BLACK GAMES THAT BLAKE PLAYED

(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced

1949

TEST RECORD BY NATION